Excerpt from Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

The apartment and furniture would have been nothing extraordinary as belonging to a homely, northern farmer, with a stubborn countenance, and stalwart limbs set out to advantage in knee-breeches and gaiters. Such an individual seated in his armchair, his mug of ale frothing on the round table before him, is to be seen in any circuit of five or six miles among these hills, if you go at the right time after dinner. But Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of living. He is a dark-skinned gypsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman: that is, as much a gentleman as many a country squire: rather slovenly, perhaps, yet not looking amiss with his negligence, because he has an erect and handsome figure; and rather morose.

Excerpted from Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. Copyright © 2002 by Emily Brontë. Excerpted by permission of Penguin Classics. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.